_King._ I must not hear thee; fare thee well, kind maid; Thy pains not used must by thyself be paid: Proffers not took reap thanks for their reward. 145
_Hel._ Inspired merit so by breath is barr'd: It is not so with Him that all things knows, As 'tis with us that square our guess by shows; But most it is presumption in us when The help of heaven we count the act of men. 150 Dear sir, to my endeavours give consent; Of heaven, not me, make an experiment. I am not an impostor, that proclaim Myself against the level of mine aim; But know I think, and think I know most sure, 155 My art is not past power, nor you past cure.
_King._ Art thou so confident? within what space Hopest thou my cure?
_Hel._ The great'st grace lending grace, Ere twice the horses of the sun shall bring Their fiery torcher his diurnal ring; 160 Ere twice in murk and occidental damp Moist Hesperus hath quench'd his sleepy lamp; Or four and twenty times the pilot's glass Hath told the thievish minutes how they pass; What is infirm from your sound parts shall fly, 165 Health shall live free, and sickness freely die.
_King._ Upon thy certainty and confidence What darest thou venture?
_Hel._ Tax of impudence, A strumpet's boldness, a divulged shame Traduced by odious ballads: my maiden's name 170 Sear'd otherwise, ne worse of worst extended, With vilest torture let my life be ended.
_King._ Methinks in thee some blessed spirit doth speak His powerful sound within an organ weak: And what impossibility would slay 175 In common sense, sense saves another way. Thy life is dear; for all, that life can rate Worth name of life, in thee hath estimate, Youth, beauty, wisdom, courage, all That happiness and prime can happy call: 180 Thou this to hazard needs must intimate Skill infinite or monstrous desperate. Sweet practiser, thy physic I will try, That ministers thine own death if I die.
_Hel._ If I break time, or flinch in property 185 Of what I spoke, unpitied let me die, And well deserved: not helping, death's my fee; But, if I help, what do you promise me?
_King._ Ay, by my sceptre and my hopes of heaven. 190
_Hel._ Then shalt thou give me with thy kingly hand What husband in thy power I will command: Exempted be from me the arrogance To choose from forth the royal blood of France, My low and humble name to propagate 195 With any branch or image of thy state; But such a one, thy vassal, whom I know Is free for me to ask, thee to bestow.